Meeting Summary
Present: Stix, Whitman, Rule, Lang, Francina
This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details, so verify against the official recording and the transcript.
At a glance
Ojai Arts Commission Grants
- Council members debated the transparency of an ad hoc committee process used to review grant applications.
- A motion to disperse funds equally among all qualified applicants failed due to a tied vote.
- The Council passed a motion to ratify the Arts Commission's original funding recommendations.
- Future joint meetings with the Arts Commission were mandated to review and improve the grant process.
Title 10 Ordinance Revisions
- Staff presented a first reading to reinstate provisions for formula businesses and short-term rentals omitted in 2023.
- The Council approved the ordinance following a brief public hearing.
Short-Term Rental Ordinance Revisions
- Staff proposed increasing the minimum rental stay to 90 days and implementing a progressive fine structure.
- The Council amended the ordinance to add "fractional" to definitions and create exceptions for month-to-month rentals.
- Staff was directed to return with additional enforcement tools, including private citizen suits and specific definitions.
Salary Schedule Resolution
- The Council approved a resolution to replace the Records Manager role with Records Technician and new Clerk positions.
- The changes aim to provide staffing flexibility and broaden the applicant pool without increasing current headcount.
- The resolution also updated salary ranges for the City Manager and clarified exempt position classifications.
Closed Session
- No closed session report was included in the provided meeting summary.
Full summary
Call to Order and Opening Remarks
- The meeting was called to order by Mayor Betsy Stix. A roll call confirmed a quorum, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Opening remarks emphasized the need for a productive, civil, and respectful atmosphere, outlining rules regarding public conduct, side conversations, and disruptions. The Mayor reminded attendees that the meeting is a board meeting for the municipal corporation focused on city business.
Approval of Agenda
- A motion was made to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded and passed.
Public Communications
- The Council opened a public comment period with a 30-minute limit before moving to the first agenda item, with a return to public comment scheduled later. Speakers were reminded of time limits, the requirement to state names and addresses, and the restriction to items within city jurisdiction.
- Library Programs: The Regional Librarian provided an update on Ojai Library programs, including an upcoming author visit, a new craft series for adults, career coaching, and an adult literacy program.
- Ojai Valley Inn and Ceasefire Resolution: Multiple speakers addressed the ownership of the Ojai Valley Inn by the Crown family, linking the city's financial ties to the Inn with weapons manufacturing and global conflicts. Speakers urged the Council to pass a ceasefire resolution, citing humanitarian concerns and questioning the city's designation as a "city of peace."
- Legal Matters: One speaker discussed a recent lawsuit filed against a Council member, criticizing the use of "lawfare." Another speaker discussed the denial of indemnification to Council Member Rule regarding a lawsuit recently ruled frivolous by a court, urging immediate indemnification.
- Firearm Regulations: A speaker addressed the presence of a gun shop within the True Value Hardware Store, citing proximity to schools and requesting hearings, zoning research, and regulations regarding gun dealers.
Consent Calendar
- The Council addressed the Consent Calendar.
- Item D (Ojai Arts Commission Grants): Council Member Francina requested to pull Item D from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion.
- Item C (Minutes for December 20th): Council Member Rule requested to pull Item C to request amendments regarding a vote to suspend rules for a speaker, the nature of a recess taken for security, and decisions made during that recess. The City Attorney noted that the video record is the best evidence and that additional time was granted by consensus without a formal vote. The City Manager stated that future minutes would list speakers without summarizing comments to avoid editorializing. The City Attorney agreed to prepare revised minutes for the December 20th meeting to include the requested details.
- Remaining Items (A and B): A motion was made to approve the remaining Consent Calendar items. The motion was seconded and passed.
Ratification of Ojai Arts Commission Grants
- Council Member Francina explained that the item was pulled to review the grant process, citing a lack of transparency compared to past practices. She noted that an ad hoc committee of three public members, rather than the full Arts Commission, had reviewed applications behind closed doors.
- Public Comment: Former Arts Commissioners expressed concern that the current commission eliminated the dollar-to-dollar match requirement without Council discussion and that the shift to an ad hoc committee lacked transparency. One former commissioner recommended that all eligible applicants receive equal funding. A resident opposed the proposal, citing potential Brown Act violations regarding the creation of the ad hoc committee in private.
- Council Discussion: Council members debated the transparency of the process, with some citing potential Brown Act violations and the lack of public justification for specific funding amounts. The City Attorney clarified that while the process lacked transparency, it did not violate the strict text of the Brown Act, noting the statute of limitations for legal challenges had passed. The City Manager recommended approving the Arts Commission's allocation and working on process improvements.
- Motions and Votes:
- A motion was made to disperse the allocated arts grant funds equally among all 17 timely qualified applicants, including an additional $400. The motion was seconded. Following discussion, the motion was put to a vote and failed due to a tied vote.
- A motion was made to ratify the Arts Commission's funding recommendations for the 2023-2024 arts grant program and to ensure a joint meeting with the Arts Commission in the future to review the process. The motion was seconded. Following discussion and a change in position by one council member, the motion was put to a vote and passed.
Title 10 Ordinance Revisions (First Reading)
- The Council considered the first reading of an ordinance to amend Title 10 of the Municipal Code. The staff report explained that the item serves as a cleanup measure to reinstate provisions regarding formula businesses and short-term rentals that were inadvertently omitted from the comprehensive Title 10 ordinance adopted in October 2023. Following a brief public hearing, a motion was made to approve the ordinance. The motion was seconded and passed.
Short-Term Rental Ordinance Revisions (First Reading)
- Staff presented a draft ordinance to strengthen short-term rental (STR) regulations. The proposal included increasing the minimum rental stay from one calendar month to 90 days and implementing a progressive fine structure ranging from $1,500 for a first violation to $5,000 for subsequent violations. The proposal also included language to allow the city to recover legal costs and staff time. Staff also presented a discussion item regarding "fractionalization."
- Public Comment: Speakers expressed support for stricter enforcement and higher fines. Concerns were raised that a 90-day minimum stay might negatively impact local residents seeking temporary housing. Other speakers emphasized the need for enforcement tools, including private citizen suits and disgorgement of illegal profits.
- Council Discussion: The City Attorney clarified that the proposed 90-day minimum would not apply to month-to-month rentals created by operation of law or rentals where the renter establishes domicile. Council members discussed adding the term "fractional" to the ordinance's definition and requested that staff return with further enforcement mechanisms, including private enforcement provisions and a specific definition for fractional ownership. One member suggested requiring a disclosure statement in real estate transactions regarding the STR ban.
- Motion and Vote: A motion was made to introduce the ordinance with amendments: adding the word "fractional" to the phrase "short-term transient or vacation rentals"; adding an exception for one-month rentals created by operation of law and rentals where the renter establishes domicile; and directing staff to return with additional enforcement tools. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Agenda Item 4: Postponement
- The Mayor proposed postponing the originally scheduled Agenda Item 4 to prioritize Agenda Item 5. The Council agreed to the postponement.
Salary Schedule Resolution
- Staff presented a resolution to amend the city's salary schedule. The proposal involved eliminating the "Records Manager" classification and replacing it with "Records Technician" (full-time and part-time) and creating two new positions: "Chief Deputy City Clerk" and "Deputy City Clerk." The resolution noted that the current Records Manager would transition into the Chief Deputy City Clerk role. The changes were intended to provide staffing flexibility and a broader applicant pool. The resolution also updated the salary range for the City Manager, added the Assistant Planner classification, and clarified the meaning of an asterisk denoting positions exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Council Discussion: Discussion focused on staffing implications, confirming that the changes would not increase the current headcount but would allow for future hiring at different experience levels.
- Motion and Vote: A motion was made to adopt the resolution amending the salary schedule, effective February 19, 2024. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Council and Staff Reports
- Council members provided brief reports, including highlights of the 24th annual Martin Luther King Day celebration and public concern regarding traffic safety involving motorized bikes. The City Manager and Chief Deputy City Clerk provided updates on administrative changes, including moving the deadline for written public comments to 3:00 PM on the day prior to the meeting and updating minutes to list public speakers rather than summarizing comments. Kent Hall was identified as a future meeting space, with a special meeting for the mid-year budget review scheduled for February 15. A City Council goals meeting is being convened for early March to finalize priorities. Council members discussed the need to address traffic safety, speed limits, the Tenant Protection Ordinance, and a committee with the school board regarding workforce housing. Staff indicated these items would be reviewed in the context of the upcoming goals meeting.
Public Comment and Future Agenda Items
- The HPC liaison proposed two items for future consideration: a discussion regarding the structures of merit within the city code and an agenda item focused on climate mitigation and the decarbonization of city buildings. No formal motion was made, seconded, or voted upon regarding these proposals.
Administrative Updates and Public Comment Procedures
- Public comment was received regarding recent administrative changes, specifically the advanced distribution of calendars and the adjustment of public comment deadlines. Clarifications were provided that written comments received the day prior to the meeting will be compiled and included, while comments submitted immediately before the meeting may not be distributed to the council in time for review but will not be discarded. No formal motion was made, seconded, or voted upon regarding these procedural clarifications.
Adjournment
- A motion was made to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded and carried. The meeting was adjourned.